How to Set a Theme in Windows 11 (Including Free Store Themes)

A theme in Windows 11 changes your background, accent color, sounds and mouse pointer in one go. Choose from the built-in themes, download free ones from the Microsoft Store or create your own with your favorite photos. This article shows how, how to set up a background slideshow and how to share a theme with colleagues.

Choose a theme

Right-click the desktop and choose Personalize, or open Settings > Personalization.
Pick one of the built-in themes at the top, or select Themes for the full overview.
Select a theme to apply it immediately.

Themes in Windows 11 personalization settings

Free themes from the Microsoft Store

Go to Personalization > Themes and next to Get more themes from Microsoft Store select Browse themes.
Pick a theme, for example landscapes, animals or space photos, and select Get.
Select Open; the theme appears in your list.

Most themes contain dozens of backgrounds that rotate automatically.

Downloading themes from the Microsoft Store

Create your own theme

Go to Personalization > Background and under Personalize your background choose Slideshow.
Select Browse and pick a folder with your own photos. Set how often the picture changes.
Under Colors, choose an accent color, or let Windows pick one from your background.
Optionally change sounds and the mouse pointer.
Go back to Themes and select Save next to Current theme. Give it a name.

To share the theme, right-click it > Save theme for sharing. You get a .deskthemepack file someone else installs with a double-click.

Light, dark and contrast

Under Colors, choose Light, Dark or Custom mode. See dark mode in Windows 11.
For people with low vision, contrast themes (Accessibility > Contrast themes) make text and edges easier to see. Toggle quickly with left Alt + left Shift + Print Screen.

On a work PC

On managed PCs, IT can lock the background or lock screen with Intune. Some options are then greyed out. See also customize the Start menu in Windows 11.

Nederlandstalige versie: Een thema instellen of maken in Windows 11

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Set or create a theme in Windows 11